LANE RANGER

Drivers have suggestions for traffic light problems

Published: Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 6:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 6:33 p.m.

Traffic signals have dominated the emails lately.

Howard Suzuki wrote about one at Northwest 39th Avenue and 51st Street. David Bloomquist wrote about one at Southwest 39th Boulevard and 34th Street. John Kish Jr. wrote about one at Southwest 43rd Street and Fred Bear Drive. Jakob Breedlove, a Santa Fe College student, wrote a very long one on Northwest 39th Avenue and 83rd Street.

"When vehicles traveling west on 39th Avenue get a green left turn arrow to turn left on to southbound 83rd Street, vehicles traveling northbound on 83rd Street turning right onto eastbound 39th Avenue have to stop, one by one, to make a right turn even though the left turning traffic has a green arrow. This causes serious delays," Breedlove said.

Gainesville Traffic Operations Manager Matthew Weisman said technicians either have or will inspect the signals that may have timing or detection issues, including the one cited by Bloomquist.

Meanwhile, the timing of the light cited by Suzuki has been modified, Weisman said.

The light at 39th Avenue and 83rd Street will take a little longer to work out because the solution will be part of a larger project of work on 39th Avenue, Weisman said.

"We will be adding the right turn arrow at the same time we convert this signal to flashing yellow arrow," he said. "We hope to complete this corridor by the beginning of the fall semester."

Meanwhile, Reynaldo Jimenez wrote with concerns about conditions on Newberry Road from the area of Interstate 75 east to 43rd Street. Jimenez said speeding in the 45 mph zone is common while short turn lanes create traffic hazards.

"Two recommendations: a stop light is needed at the Monticello at Mill Pond entrance or on the street before so cars can slow down, and the speed limit on that stretch should be 35 miles per hour." he said. "This week we had 2 car accidents and a motorcycle accident that could have been quite serious."

<p>Traffic signals have dominated the emails lately.</p><p>Howard Suzuki wrote about one at Northwest 39th Avenue and 51st Street. David Bloomquist wrote about one at Southwest 39th Boulevard and 34th Street. John Kish Jr. wrote about one at Southwest 43rd Street and Fred Bear Drive. Jakob Breedlove, a Santa Fe College student, wrote a very long one on Northwest 39th Avenue and 83rd Street.</p><p>"When vehicles traveling west on 39th Avenue get a green left turn arrow to turn left on to southbound 83rd Street, vehicles traveling northbound on 83rd Street turning right onto eastbound 39th Avenue have to stop, one by one, to make a right turn even though the left turning traffic has a green arrow. This causes serious delays," Breedlove said.</p><p>Gainesville Traffic Operations Manager Matthew Weisman said technicians either have or will inspect the signals that may have timing or detection issues, including the one cited by Bloomquist.</p><p>Meanwhile, the timing of the light cited by Suzuki has been modified, Weisman said.</p><p>The light at 39th Avenue and 83rd Street will take a little longer to work out because the solution will be part of a larger project of work on 39th Avenue, Weisman said.</p><p>"We will be adding the right turn arrow at the same time we convert this signal to flashing yellow arrow," he said. "We hope to complete this corridor by the beginning of the fall semester."</p><p>Meanwhile, Reynaldo Jimenez wrote with concerns about conditions on Newberry Road from the area of Interstate 75 east to 43rd Street. Jimenez said speeding in the 45 mph zone is common while short turn lanes create traffic hazards.</p><p>"Two recommendations: a stop light is needed at the Monticello at Mill Pond entrance or on the street before so cars can slow down, and the speed limit on that stretch should be 35 miles per hour." he said. "This week we had 2 car accidents and a motorcycle accident that could have been quite serious."</p>